Circle
(also referred to as "council" or "circle"),is
asocial
structurewherepeople
gather together for ashared
purpose or intentionto
engage inmeaningful
speaking and respectful listening.Thiscommunication
processis
governed by commonlyshared
values, principles and practiceswhich
are essential to help create asafe
and comfortable space(unlike
other social spaces), in which we can engage in a deeper way with each other.
One practice is the use of atalking
pieceto
aid communication: the person holding the piece does the talking while everyone
else listens, the piece is passed around from person to person until everyone
has had an opportunity to contribute if they so choose to. Another key component
of Circle isdeep
thought-provoking questionsput
forward to empowerself-reflective
story-tellingand
meaningful sharing.The process
is egalitarian; leadership is rotated and shared in a way that each person
present is invested and responsible for the direction the group takes.

Essentially, the essence of Circle is to create space and time for everyone
to have a say, be seen & heard, and listened to respectfully.

Circle is a useful tool to aid
effective communication (a.k.a meaningful speaking & respectful listening
where everyone is included), to empower group synergy &
collaboration, to build healthy relationships
between individuals, and support our group's vision
& purpose - in a variety of settings including: at home, at work, in the
classroom, at community group meetings, group socials, etc. Basically, anywhere
where people come together for a shared purpose.

Above all, if truth be known, one
can not simply read about Circle to appreciate it– to understand the
value of Circle one must experience it! We may not be aware of the total sum of
what’s going on in Circle such as its transformative properties until we have
come out of the experience of Circle (again and again). See for yourself, Call a
Circle!